Systems and methods for license-enabled signal processing

ABSTRACT

A communication system maintains a signal processing license within a memory of the communication system. The signal processing license allows the communication system to perform a license-enabled signal processing function on signals received from one or more devices external to the communication system while the signal processing license is maintained within the memory. As such, the communication system detects that an additional communication system is within a transfer range of the communication system, and, in response, performs a transfer operation in which the signal processing license is transferred from the communication system to the additional communication system such that the signal processing license is no longer maintained within the memory once the transfer operation is completely performed. Consequently, subsequent to the transfer operation, the additional communication system is enabled to perform the license-enabled signal processing function while the communication system is prevented from performing the license-enabled signal processing function.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The natural sense of hearing in human beings involves the use of haircells in the cochlea that convert or transduce acoustic signals intoauditory nerve impulses. As such, hearing loss may generally becharacterized as being one of two types: conductive and sensorineural.As described below, different types of hearing devices may be used torestore and/or improve hearing in patients based upon what type ofhearing loss the patients suffer from.

Conductive hearing loss may occur when the normal mechanical pathwaysfor sound to reach the hair cells in the cochlea are impeded. Forexample, these sound pathways may be impeded by damage to the auditoryossicles, resulting in an unwanted attenuation of sounds prior toreaching the hair cells in the cochlea. As such, conductive hearing lossmay often be overcome through the use of hearing devices that amplifysounds to help acoustic signals reach the hair cells at easilyperceivable levels. For example, various types of hearing aids thatfunction in this way may be available to improve hearing for those withconductive hearing loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss, on the other hand, is caused by the absenceor destruction of the hair cells in the cochlea, which are needed toproperly transduce acoustic signals into auditory nerve impulses.Accordingly, while patients who suffer from certain degrees ofsensorineural hearing loss (e.g., mild, moderate, and/or profoundhearing loss) may derive at least some benefit from hearing aids,certain patients who suffer from more serious degrees of sensorineuralhearing loss (e.g., profound or total hearing loss) may be unable toderive significant benefit from hearing aid systems, no matter how loudthe acoustic stimulus. Thus, to overcome certain degrees ofsensorineural hearing loss, hearing devices such as cochlear implantsystems (also known as cochlear prostheses) have been developed tobypass the hair cells in the cochlea altogether by presenting electricalstimulation directly to the auditory nerve fibers by way of an array ofelectrodes implanted within the cochlea. By directly stimulating theauditory nerve fibers in this way, patients with sensorineural hearingloss may perceive sound and at least partial restoration of hearingfunction may be achieved.

Unfortunately, with any type of hearing loss from which a patient maysuffer, and with any type of hearing device that the patient may use, itmay be difficult, impractical, or impossible for the patient to clearlyand adequately perceive certain sounds presented to the patient incertain situations. For example, as a result of noise, reverberation,and the like, the signal-to-noise ratio in a relatively large and/orcrowded room (e.g., a classroom, a theater, a conference room, arestaurant, a convert venue, etc.) may cause significant difficulty forthe patient in trying to understand what one or more speakers (e.g.,instructors, presenters, performers, etc.) in the room are saying. Insome situations, a device (e.g., a microphone or the like) may be usedto capture sound made by the speaker (e.g., the speaker's voice, etc.)near the source in order to amplify the sound and/or transmit a signal(e.g., a wireless signal) representative of the sound for the benefit ofvarious people listening (e.g., everyone in the room, those in the roomwho suffer from hearing loss, people listening in a separate location towhich the sound is being broadcast, etc.). However, conventional systemsand methods by which various types of hearing devices receive, process,and present such signals to patients may be outdated, inflexible, andotherwise in need of improvement so as not to stifle improvements thatcould be made and/or are being made to new generations of hearingdevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments and are a partof the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examplesand do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings,identical or similar reference numbers designate identical or similarelements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary configuration in which an exemplaryhearing system receives and processes signals from one or more devicesexternal to the hearing system according to principles described herein.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate exemplary implementations of the configuration ofFIG. 1 in which various types of hearing systems receive and processsignals from one or more devices external to the hearing systemsaccording to principles described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic structure of the human cochlea tofacilitate understanding of how the exemplary hearing system of FIG. 4functions according to principles described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary implementation of the configurationof FIG. 1 in which another type of hearing system receives and processessignals from one or more devices external to the hearing systemaccording to principles described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary communication system for license-enabledsignal processing of signals according to principles described herein.

FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate exemplary configurations in which thecommunication system of FIG. 7 and an additional communication systemperform transfer operations with respect to a shared signal processinglicense according to principles described herein.

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate exemplary configurations in which exemplarycommunication systems perform license-enabled signal processing ofsignals according to principles described herein.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary method for license-enabled signalprocessing of signals according to principles described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods for license-enabled signal processing of signals(e.g., wireless signals, electrical signals, optical signals, etc.) aredescribed herein. For example, a communication system that includes oneor more physical computing devices (e.g., a processor, a memory, acommunication interface, etc.) may maintain a signal processing licensewithin a memory of the communication system. The signal processinglicense may be implemented, for example, by data representative of akey, a token, or the like, that may be stored and/or otherwisemaintained in the memory of the communication system. While the signalprocessing license is maintained by the communication system, the signalprocessing license may be configured to allow the communication systemto perform a license-enabled signal processing function on signals(e.g., wireless signals) received by the communication system from oneor more devices external to the communication system.

As used herein, a “signal processing function” may be performed on orwith respect to a signal (e.g., a wireless signal, an electrical signal,an optical signal, etc.) to receive, process, and/or provide the signalfor use by a communication system, a hearing device, or another deviceor system as may serve a particular implementation. For example, in thecase of a wireless signal, performing a signal processing function on awireless signal may include receiving the wireless signal (e.g., by wayof a radio or other hardware transceiver), demodulating the wirelesssignal, performing an analog-to-digital conversion on the demodulatedsignal, converting the signal into another form (e.g., into anelectrical or optical audio signal, a magnetic signal, an acousticsignal, etc.), providing (e.g., sending, transmitting, etc.) theprocessed signal to a hearing device or the like, and/or any otheroperations as may serve to facilitate preparation and use of a signal ina communication system, a hearing system, or the like. Accordingly, a“license-enabled signal processing function” may refer to any signalprocessing function that requires or uses a license (e.g., a signalprocessing license) to enable, allow, or facilitate performance of thesignal processing function. Examples of signal processing functions,including license-enabled signal processing functions, will be describedin more detail below. While many examples included herein are describedspecifically in terms of wireless signals, it will be understood thatthe principles illustrated by these examples may also be applicable toother types of signals such as electrical signals, optical signals, andthe like.

Returning to the exemplary communication system described above, thewireless signals received by the communication system from the one ormore devices external to the communication system may include signalsrepresentative of audio (e.g., digital, packet-based audiotransmissions, frequency modulated (“FM”) audio transmissions, etc.)from one or more devices that transmit or broadcast such audio signals(e.g., a wireless microphone that detects an acoustic signal andtransmits the audio transmissions based on the acoustic signal). In someexamples, while the signal processing license is maintained within thememory of the communication system, the communication system may detectthat an additional communication system is within a transfer range(e.g., is already located within a predetermined proximity, enterswithin a predetermined proximity, etc.) of the communication system.

In response to the detection that the additional communication system iswithin the transfer range (e.g., or enters into the transfer range) ofthe communication system, the communication system may perform atransfer operation with respect to the signal processing license. Forexample, the communication system may cause the signal processinglicense to be transferred from the communication system to theadditional communication system such that the signal processing licenseis no longer maintained within the memory of the communication systemonce the transfer operation is completely performed. Instead, forexample, the signal processing license may be maintained within a memoryof the additional communication system once the transfer operation iscompletely performed. As such, the transfer operation may allow theadditional communication system to perform the license-enabled signalprocessing function subsequent to the transfer operation. The transferoperation may likewise prevent the communication system from being ableto perform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent tothe transfer operation.

In other words, the signal processing license may only be used by one ofthe communication system and the additional communication system at atime to perform the license-enabled signal processing function. Althoughboth communication systems may include the necessary hardware and/orsoftware to perform the license-enabled signal processing function(e.g., to receive, process, and provide the wireless signals for use bythe communication system such as to facilitate hearing of a user of ahearing device), only the communication system currently maintaining thesignal processing license may be allowed or enabled to perform thelicense-enabled signal processing function at any given time. The othercommunication system not maintaining the signal processing license maybe disabled from performing the license-enabled signal processingfunction with respect to the wireless signals.

The communication system and the additional communication system may beimplemented as any types of systems described herein or as may serve aparticular implementation. For instance, as will be further describedand illustrated below, the communication system and the additionalcommunication system may be similar or identical systems in certainexamples, while, in other examples, the communication system and theadditional communication system may have significant differences. Forexample, if the communication system and the additional communicationsystem relate to hearing systems and the wireless signals include adigital (e.g., packet-based) audio transmission, exactly one of thecommunication system and the additional communication system may beconfigured to provide stimulation to a user to facilitate the user inperceiving the acoustic signal upon which the digital audio transmissionis based. In other words, exactly one of the communication system andthe additional communication system may include (e.g., be implementedwithin, associated with, etc.) a hearing device such as a hearing aid, asound processor associated with a cochlear implant, or the like.

In contrast, the other communication system (i.e., the one notimplemented by the hearing device) may be configured to enable one ormore hearing devices, but not to act as a hearing device itself. Forexample, the other communication system not implemented by the hearingdevice may be implemented by a hearing device plug-in accessoryassociated with a power pack system, or by a hearing device streameraccessory. Various examples of communication systems (includingstandalone communication systems and communication systems integratedwithin hearing systems) will be described in more detail below.

The systems and methods for license-enabled signal processing ofwireless signals described herein may provide various benefits. Forexample, the systems and methods for license-enabled signal processingof wireless signals described herein may allow for and facilitateinnovation of communication systems. More specifically, as will bedescribed in more detail below, the systems and methods forlicense-enabled signal processing of wireless signals described hereinmay allow use patterns, paradigms, reimbursement schemes, and so forth,that have been established with conventional communication systems toremain intact even while allowing new technologies to be morepractically and conveniently leveraged and rolled out for newgenerations of hearing systems, hearing devices, and/or communicationsystems. Such technologies may provide usability benefits to end users,flexibility for institutional customers, and other benefits as will bemade apparent in the description below.

Various embodiments will now be described in more detail with referenceto the figures. The disclosed systems and methods may provide one ormore of the benefits mentioned above and/or various additional and/oralternative benefits that will be made apparent herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary configuration 100 in which an exemplaryhearing system receives and processes wireless signals from one or moredevices external to the hearing system. While the context of manyexamples described and illustrated herein relate to hearing systems(e.g., hearing aid systems, cochlear implant systems, etc.), it will beunderstood that such systems are used for illustrative purposes only. Invarious examples, the principles underlying the specific hearing systemexamples described herein may be applied to numerous other types ofsystems (i.e., systems unrelated to facilitating hearing by thosesuffering from hearing loss). As such, the principles described below inrelation to hearing systems should be interpreted to broadly apply toany type of system as may serve a particular implementation.

Configuration 100 illustrates a hearing system 102 and a wireless device104 that is external to (i.e., separate from hearing system 102). Forexample, hearing system 102 may include a hearing aid system, a cochlearimplant system, or the like, and wireless device 104 may be a devicethat generates and transmits wireless signals (e.g., a wirelessmicrophone transmitting digital (e.g., packet-based) audiotransmissions).

As shown, hearing system 102 includes an exemplary communication system106 that includes a hardware transceiver 108 communicatively coupledwith a signal processor 110. For example, if hearing system 102 is ahearing aid system, communication system 106 may be a hearing deviceplug-in accessory (e.g., configured to plug into a hearing device by wayof a universal Europlug interface, a proprietary interface, etc.), ahearing device streamer accessory (e.g., configured to be worn aroundthe neck of the user and to communicate with a hearing device by way ofa wireless audio interface such as a universal telecoil interface or thelike), or another suitable accessory configured to couple with a hearingdevice as may serve a particular implementation. Accordingly, hardwaretransceiver 108 within communication system 106 may include and/or beimplemented by an antenna and/or any other suitable circuitry andcomponents as may be used to receive wireless signals from wirelessdevice 104 in a particular implementation.

Signal processor 110 within communication system 106 may include and/orbe implemented by at least one physical computing component such as aprocessor, a memory, digital logic, or other computing componentscapable of performing a signal processing function on a signal receivedfrom hardware transceiver 108. For instance, the signal processingfunction may be as simple as passing the signal received from hardwaretransceiver 108 forward to the hearing device, or may include any signalprocessing (e.g., converting, amplifying, splitting, filtering, orotherwise modifying or improving the signal) as may serve a particularimplementation.

To this end, as further shown in configuration 100, communication system106 may be coupled, by way of a connection 112, with a hearing device114. Hearing device 114 may include a hearing aid, a sound processor orother component of a cochlear implant system, or another type of hearingdevice as may serve a particular implementation of hearing system 102.Accordingly, as described above, connection 112 may communicativelyand/or physically couple communication system 106 with hearing device114 in any way that serves both communication system 106 and hearingdevice 114. For example, if hearing device 114 is a hearing aid andcommunication system 106 is a hearing device plug-in accessory,connection 112 may be a wired, plug-in interface (e.g., a universalEuroplug interface, a proprietary interface, etc.) that both physicallyand communicatively couples communication system 106 with hearing device114. Conversely, if communication system 106 is a hearing devicestreamer accessory, connection 112 may be a wireless audio interface(e.g., a universal telecoil interface, another audio inductioninterface, another radio interface, etc.) that communicatively (butwirelessly, rather than physically) couples communication system 106with hearing device 114.

Accordingly, configuration 100 illustrates that wireless device 104 maytransmit exemplary wireless signals 116 to hearing system 102. Asillustrated, wireless signals 116 may be received at hearing system 102by hardware transceiver 108 (e.g., within communication system 106) andcommunicated to signal processor 110, where a signal processing functionmay be performed before providing a signal 118 representative of thedata received and processed from wireless signals 116 to hearing device114 by way of connection 112.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6 illustrate various exemplary implementations ofconfiguration 100 in which various types of hearing systems receive andprocess wireless signals from one or more devices external to thehearing systems. (FIG. 5 does not illustrate an implementation ofconfiguration 100, but rather shows a schematic structure of the humancochlea to facilitate understanding of how the configuration describedin FIG. 4 functions.) In other words, FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6 each showrespective configurations that implement and/or are otherwise analogousto configuration 100, discussed above in relation to FIG. 1. As such, inFIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6, as well as in other figures that will be describedbelow (i.e., FIGS. 9 and 10), a consistent numbering scheme (i.e., anumbering scheme based on the reference designation numbers of FIG. 1)will be used to illustrate analogous components. At the same time,because the components in each figure may not be identical to analogouscomponents in other figures, the numbering scheme allows the referencedesignation number for each component to be unique.

Specifically, for example, the reference designation number of hearingsystem 102 (i.e., “102”) includes a ‘1’ to indicate that it isassociated with FIG. 1 (and configuration 100), and includes an ‘02’ toindicate what type of component it is (i.e., some type of hearingsystem; in this case, a generic hearing system). Accordingly, referencedesignation numbers “202” (in FIG. 2), “302” (in FIG. 3), and so forth,indicate similar types of components for each respective configurationillustrated in the respective figures (e.g., hearing systems thatperform similar or analogous functions, but which may be less genericand more specific to a particular implementation).

To illustrate, FIG. 2 shows a configuration 200, which is analogous to(e.g., but may be more specific than) configuration 100 of FIG. 1.Specifically, configuration 200 includes a hearing aid system 202 (i.e.,a particular type of hearing system analogous to hearing system 102)that receives wireless signals from a wireless microphone 204 that is anexemplary implementation of wireless device 104 of FIG. 1. Configuration200 also includes a hearing device plug-in accessory 206 that implementscommunication system 106 and that includes an wireless receiver 208(e.g., a digital receiver, and FM receiver, etc.) implementing hardwaretransceiver 108 and a signal processor 210 implementing signal processor110. A plug-in interface 212 (e.g., a universal Europlug interface)implements connection 112 described above to allow hearing deviceplug-in accessory 206 to physically couple (i.e., plug in) andcommunicatively couple with a hearing aid 214 that implements hearingdevice 114.

In operation (e.g., when hearing device plug-in accessory 206 is coupledwith hearing aid 214, not explicitly shown in FIG. 2), wirelessmicrophone 204 may transmit a digital (e.g., packet-based) audiotransmission 216 that implements wireless signals 116. Wireless receiver208 detects and/or receives digital audio transmission 216 and providesa signal representative of digital audio transmission 216 to signalprocessor 210 for signal processing. For example, voice audio includedwithin the signal may be processed and/or amplified by way of one ormore signal processing functions performed by signal processor 210 tomake the signal easier for hearing aid 214 to present and/or for a userusing hearing aid 214 to hear and understand. An electrical audio signal218 representative of the audio included within digital audiotransmission 216 may be transmitted by signal processor 210 to hearingaid 214 to be presented to a user wearing hearing aid 214. Additionallyor alternatively, audio signal 218 may be representative of audioincluded within digital audio transmission 216, but may not yet beprocessed (or fully processed) until after being transmitted to hearingaid 214. For example, signal processor 210 or another analogous signalprocessor may be included within hearing aid 214 such that at least partof the signal processing function is performed on hearing aid 214,rather than on hearing device plug-in accessory 206.

While the components of configuration 200 described above are eachassociated with an analogous component described above with respect toconfiguration 100, configuration 200 also illustrates additionalcomponents that do not directly correlate with components shown inconfiguration 100 of FIG. 1. Specifically, as shown, hearing aid 214 isconnected to an ear hook 220 that may facilitate a user of hearing aid214 in wearing hearing aid 214 behind the ear. Ear hook 220 alsoincludes an earpiece 222, which may fit within the user's ear while thehearing aid is being worn to present acoustic stimulation to the user.

As another example, FIG. 3 shows a configuration 300, which, likeconfiguration 200, is analogous to (e.g., but may be more specific than)configuration 100 of FIG. 1. Specifically, configuration 300 includes ahearing aid system 302 that receives wireless signals from a wirelessmicrophone 304 similar to wireless microphone 204. In place of hearingdevice plug-in accessory 206 of FIG. 2, however, configuration 300includes a hearing device streamer accessory 306 to implementcommunication system 106. Similar to hearing device plug-in accessory206, hearing device streamer accessory 306 includes a wireless receiver308 implementing hardware transceiver 108 and a signal processor 310implementing signal processor 110. However, in place of plug-ininterface 212 of configuration 200, a wireless audio interface 312implements connection 112 described above to allow hearing devicestreamer accessory 306 to communicatively couple with a hearing aid 314that implements hearing device 114. In some examples, wireless audiointerface 312 could be implemented as a simple induction interface. Forinstance, wireless audio interface 312 may generate a signal (e.g., aradio signal, a magnetic signal, etc.) using a transmit antenna 312-A(e.g., implemented by a neckloop or the like), and the signal may bedetected by a receive antenna 312-B (e.g., implemented by a universaltelecoil or another suitable coil or the like). In other examples,wireless audio interface 312 may be implemented as a more complex nearfield communication interface (e.g., that transmits digitally modulatedaudio or the like). In certain implementations, wireless audio interface312 may represent other suitable types of wireless audio interfaces. Forinstance, wireless audio interface 312 may be implemented by a wirelessinterface that may or may not include an induction loop, and that mayinclude a radio interface that uses one or more electromagnetic antennasconfigured to communicate in the far field to transmit a digital audiosignal using phase modulation, amplitude modulation, frequencymodulation, or any combination thereof (e.g., Gaussian frequency shiftkeying (“GFSK”), M-ary phase shift keying (“MPSK”), quadrature amplitudemodulation (“QAM”), orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (“OFDM”),etc.). As shown, while hearing aid 314 may perform similar functionalityas hearing aid 214 of FIG. 2, hearing aid 314 may provide wireless audiointerface 312 (e.g., by including receive antenna 312-B and associatedcircuitry) in addition or as an alternative to a plug-in interface suchas plug-in interface 212.

In operation, wireless microphone 304 may transmit a digital audiotransmission 316 that implements wireless signals 116 (e.g., and is thesame or similar to digital audio transmission 216). Wireless receiver308 may then detect and/or receive digital audio transmission 316 andmay provide a signal representative of digital audio transmission 316 tosignal processor 310 for signal processing analogous to the signalprocessing described above. A radio signal 318 representative of theaudio included within digital audio transmission 316 may be transmittedby way of wireless audio interface 312 (i.e., by generating radio signal318 via transmit antenna 312-A) to be received by (i.e., by receiveantenna 312-B) within hearing aid 314 and presented to a user wearinghearing aid 314. Additionally or alternatively, radio signal 318 may berepresentative of audio included within digital audio transmission 316,but may not yet be processed (or fully processed) until after beingtransmitted to hearing aid 314. For example, signal processor 310 oranother analogous signal processor may be included within hearing aid314 such that at least part of the signal processing function isperformed on hearing aid 314, rather than on hearing device streameraccessory 306.

As shown, hearing aid 314 may also be connected to an ear hook 320 that,analogously with ear hook 220, may facilitate a user of hearing aid 314in wearing hearing aid 314 behind the ear. Ear hook 320 also includes anearpiece 322 analogous to earpiece 222, described above, to presentacoustic stimulation to the user while the user wears the hearing aid.

As another example, FIG. 4 shows a configuration 400, which, likeconfigurations 200 and 300, is analogous to (e.g., but may be morespecific than) configuration 100 of FIG. 1. Specifically, configuration400 includes a cochlear implant system 402 (i.e., another particulartype of hearing system analogous to hearing system 102) that receiveswireless signals from a wireless microphone 404 similar to wirelessmicrophones 204 and 304. Similar to hearing device plug-in accessory 206of FIG. 2, configuration 400 includes a hearing device plug-in accessory406. However, it will be understood that, in certain implementations,cochlear implant systems such as hearing system 402 may additionally oralternatively use a hearing device streamer accessory such as hearingdevice streamer accessory 306 or another suitable accessory to implementcommunication system 106. Similar to hearing device plug-in accessory206, hearing device plug-in accessory 406 includes an wireless receiver408 implementing hardware transceiver 108, a signal processor 410implementing signal processor 110, and a plug-in interface 412implementing connection 112. However, in place of a hearing aid such ashearing aids 214 and 314 of configurations 200 and 300, respectively,configuration 400 includes a sound processor 414 of cochlear implantsystem 402 to implement hearing device 114.

In operation, wireless microphone 404 may transmit a digital audiotransmission 416 that implements wireless signals 116 (e.g., and is thesame or similar to digital audio transmissions 216 and 316). Wirelessreceiver 408 may then detect and/or receive digital audio transmission416 and may provide a signal representative of digital audiotransmission 416 to signal processor 410 for signal processing analogousto the signal processing described above (e.g., performing the signalprocessing functions described above). An electrical audio signal 418representative of the audio included within digital audio transmission416 may be transmitted by way of plug-in interface 412 to soundprocessor 414 to be presented to a user using cochlear implant system402. Additionally or alternatively, audio signal 418 may berepresentative of audio included within digital audio transmission 416,but may not yet be processed (or fully processed) until after beingtransmitted to sound processor 414. For example, signal processor 410 oranother analogous signal processor may be included within soundprocessor 414 such that at least part of the signal processing functionis performed on sound processor 414, rather than on hearing deviceplug-in accessory 406.

As shown, sound processor 414 may also be connected to an ear hook 420that, analogously with ear hooks 220 and 320, may facilitate a user ofsound processor 414 in wearing sound processor 414 behind the ear.However, rather than applying acoustic stimulation by way of an earpiece(e.g., such as earpieces 222 and 322 of configurations 200 and 300,respectively), cochlear implant system 402 may apply stimulationrepresentative of digital audio transmission 416 by other means andusing additional components that may have no analog in hearing aidsystems 202 and 302.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, cochlear implant system 402 mayinclude various components configured to be located external to a user(e.g., a cochlear implant patient) including, but not limited to, amicrophone 424, sound processor 414, ear hook 420, and a headpiece 426.Cochlear implant system 402 may further include various componentsconfigured to be implanted within the user including, but not limitedto, a cochlear implant 428 (also referred to as an implantable cochlearstimulator) and a lead 430 (also referred to as an intracochlearelectrode array) with a plurality of electrodes 432 disposed thereon. Incertain examples, additional or alternative components may be includedwithin cochlear implant system 402 as may serve a particularimplementation. Additionally, it will be understood that in certainimplementations (e.g., “fully-implantable”implementations), one or moreof the components described and illustrated as being external to theuser may alternatively be implanted within the user. These componentsspecific to cochlear implant system 402 will now be described in moredetail.

Microphone 424 may be configured to detect audio signals presented tothe patient. Microphone 424 may be implemented in any suitable manner.Microphone 424 may be associated with a particular ear of the patientsuch as by being located in a vicinity of the particular ear (e.g.,within the concha of the ear near the entrance to the ear canal). Asshown, in some examples, microphone 424 may be held within the concha ofthe ear near the entrance of the ear canal by a boom or stalk that isassociated with (e.g., attached to) ear hook 420 and configured to beselectively attached to sound processor 414. Additionally oralternatively, microphone 424 may be implemented by one or moremicrophones disposed within headpiece 426, one or more microphonesdisposed within sound processor 414, one or more beam-formingmicrophones, and/or any other suitable microphone or microphones as mayserve a particular implementation.

In addition to the functionality analogous to hearing aids 214 and 314described above, sound processor 414 (i.e., at least one physicalcomputing component included within sound processor 414) may be furtherconfigured to direct cochlear implant 428 to generate and applyelectrical stimulation (also referred to herein as “stimulationcurrent”) representative of one or more audio signals (e.g., audiosignal 418, one or more audio signals detected by microphone 424, etc.)to one or more stimulation sites associated with an auditory pathway(e.g., the auditory nerve) of the patient. Exemplary stimulation sitesinclude, but are not limited to, one or more locations within thecochlea, the cochlear nucleus, the inferior colliculus, and/or any othernuclei in the auditory pathway. While, for the sake of simplicity,electrical stimulation will be described herein as being applied to oneor both of the cochleae of a patient, it will be understood thatstimulation current may also be applied to other suitable nuclei in theauditory pathway. To this end, sound processor 414 may process the oneor more audio signals in accordance with a selected sound processingstrategy or program (i.e., a selected sound processing program) togenerate appropriate stimulation parameters for controlling cochlearimplant 428. As shown, sound processor 414 may include or be implementedby a behind-the-ear (“BTE”) unit. In other examples, however, it will beunderstood that sound processor 414 may be implemented by a body worndevice, and/or any other sound processing unit as may serve a particularimplementation. For example, sound processor 414 may be implemented byan electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) sound processor included in anEAS system configured to provide electrical and acoustic stimulation toa patient.

In certain implementations, sound processor 414 may wirelessly transmitstimulation parameters (e.g., in the form of data words included in aforward telemetry sequence) and/or power signals to cochlear implant 428by way of a wireless communication link 434 between headpiece 426 andcochlear implant 428. It will be understood that communication link 434may include a bidirectional communication link and/or one or morededicated unidirectional communication links. In some examples, soundprocessor 414 may execute and operate in accordance with a soundprocessing program that has been loaded onto sound processor 414.

Headpiece 426 may be communicatively coupled to sound processor 414(e.g., by a wired connection) and may include an external antenna (e.g.,a coil and/or one or more wireless communication components) configuredto facilitate selective wireless coupling of sound processor 414 tocochlear implant 428. Headpiece 426 may additionally or alternatively beused to selectively and wirelessly couple any other external device tocochlear implant 428. To this end, headpiece 426 may be configured to beaffixed to the patient's head and positioned such that the externalantenna housed within headpiece 426 is communicatively coupled to acorresponding implantable antenna (which may also be implemented by acoil and/or one or more wireless communication components) includedwithin or otherwise associated with cochlear implant 428. In thismanner, stimulation parameters and/or power signals may be wirelesslytransmitted between sound processor 414 and cochlear implant 428 viacommunication link 434.

Cochlear implant 428 may include any type of implantable stimulator thatmay be used in association with the systems and methods describedherein. For example, cochlear implant 428 may be implemented by animplantable cochlear stimulator. In some alternative implementations,cochlear implant 428 may include a brainstem implant and/or any othertype of active implant or auditory prosthesis that may be implantedwithin a patient and configured to apply stimulation to one or morestimulation sites located along an auditory pathway of a patient.

In some examples, cochlear implant 428 may be configured to generate andapply electrical stimulation representative of an audio signal processedby sound processor 414 (e.g., audio signal 418, an audio signal detectedby microphone 424, etc.) in accordance with one or more stimulationparameters transmitted thereto by sound processor 414. Cochlear implant428 may be further configured to apply the electrical stimulation to oneor more stimulation sites within the patient via one or more electrodes432 disposed along lead 430 (e.g., by way of one or more stimulationchannels formed by electrodes 432). In some examples, cochlear implant428 may include a plurality of independent current sources eachassociated with a channel defined by one or more of electrodes 432. Inthis manner, different stimulation current levels may be applied tomultiple stimulation sites simultaneously (also referred to as“concurrently”) by way of multiple electrodes 432.

In order to facilitate understanding of how cochlear implant system 402functions to facilitate hearing by the user, FIG. 5 illustrates aschematic structure of a human cochlea 500 into which lead 430 may beinserted. As shown in FIG. 5, cochlea 500 is in the shape of a spiralbeginning at a base 502 and ending at an apex 504. Within cochlea 500resides auditory nerve tissue 506, which is denoted by Xs in FIG. 5.Auditory nerve tissue 506 is organized within cochlea 500 in a tonotopicmanner. That is, relatively low frequencies are encoded at or near apex504 of cochlea 500 (referred to as an “apical region”) while relativelyhigh frequencies are encoded at or near base 502 (referred to as a“basal region”). Hence, each location along the length of cochlea 500corresponds to a different perceived frequency. Cochlear implant system402 may therefore be configured to apply electrical stimulation todifferent locations within cochlea 500 (e.g., different locations alongauditory nerve tissue 506) to provide a sensation of hearing to theuser. For example, when lead 430 is properly inserted into cochlea 500,each of electrodes 432 may be located at a different cochlear depthwithin cochlea 500 (e.g., at a different part of auditory nerve tissue506) such that stimulation current applied to one electrode 432 maycause the patient to perceive a different frequency than the samestimulation current applied to a different electrode 432 (e.g., anelectrode 432 located at a different part of auditory nerve tissue 506within cochlea 500).

In the exemplary configurations described and illustrated above (i.e.,configurations 100, 200, 300, and 400), each hearing system includes acommunication system that is separate from (although configured tocommunicatively couple with) a hearing device included within thehearing system. Specifically, communication system 106 and hearingdevice 114 in configuration 100, hearing device plug-in accessory 206and hearing aid 214 in configuration 200, hearing device streameraccessory 306 and hearing aid 314 in configuration 300, and hearingdevice plug-in accessory 406 and sound processor 414 in configuration400 have each been illustrated and described as being distinct devicesthat may be coupled (e.g., communicatively and, in certain casesphysically) with one another. In contrast with the above configurations,however, certain hearing systems (e.g., newer generations of hearingsystems) may include a hearing device that includes a communicationsystem integrated with the hearing device.

To illustrate, FIG. 6 shows a configuration 600 that is yet anotherexemplary configuration analogous to configuration 100. Similar toconfiguration 100 and other configurations described above,configuration 600 includes a hearing system 602, a wireless device 604that transmits wireless signals to hearing system 602, a communicationsystem 606 with a hardware transceiver 608 and a signal processor 610for receiving and processing the wireless signals, and a hearing device614 for applying stimulation representative of signals output bycommunication system 606 to a user of hearing system 602. However, incontrast to configuration 100 and the other configurations describedabove, configuration 600 illustrates a communication system (i.e.,communication system 606) that is not separate from and coupled to ahearing device (i.e., hearing device 614), but, rather, is integratedwith (e.g., built into, included within, etc.) the hearing device.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, hearing system 602 may be completelyimplemented as one device.

Hearing system 602 may represent at least part of any of the hearingsystems described herein. For example, hearing system 602 may representa hearing aid that includes a built-in communication system (e.g., abuilt-in ability to receive and process wireless signals). In otherexamples, hearing system 602 may represent at least part of a cochlearimplant system (e.g., one or more of the components typically residingexternal to the patient such as the microphone, the sound processor, theheadpiece, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, hearing system602 may represent an entire cochlear implant system (e.g., evenincluding implanted components such as the cochlear implant, the leadwith the electrodes disposed thereon, etc.). For example, hearing system602 may represent a cochlear implant system that is fully implantablewithin the user (i.e., such that signal receiving and processing isperformed internal to the user).

The integration of hearing device 614 and communication system 606 shownin configuration 600 may provide certain advantages to hearing systemusers and manufacturers. For example, by eliminating the need to providean external interface connection (e.g., such as connection 112 ofconfiguration 100, plug-in interfaces 212 and 412 of configurations 200and 400, respectively, and wireless audio interface 312 of configuration300), the design of both hearing device 614 and communication system 606may be optimized, resulting in increased reliability of the whole systemdue to the removal of the additional mechanical and/or wirelessinterface. Moreover, in some examples, hearing device 614 may beminiaturized compared to previous designs, making hearing device 614less conspicuous and less burdensome to wear, allowing hearing device614 to use less power and enjoy longer battery life, and/or providingother benefits associated with these technological improvements.

Unfortunately, however, certain disadvantages may also be associatedwith integrating communication system 606 into hearing device 614 incertain examples. For instance, user familiarity, customer purchasingparadigms, reimbursement schemes, and other practical and/ornon-technological aspects of how hearing systems receive and performsignal processing of wireless signals may discourage and impede the useand sale of integrated hearing systems such as hearing system 602.Specifically, for example, in certain countries, reimbursement rulesrequire that hearing devices are purchased independently fromcommunication systems, which is not possible when communication systemsare integrated directly within the hearing devices.

One major type of customer for communication system accessories tohearing devices has conventionally been institutional entitiesassociated with venues where presentations are made (e.g., schools,theaters, presentation facilities, etc.). To compete for market shareamong such customers requires hearing system manufacturers to offer aproduct that functions universally (e.g. without regard to hearingsystem type, brand, technology generation, etc.). Accordingly, it may bedesirable to offer communication systems that operate to perform signalprocessing functions for conventional hearing devices that cannotperform such functions themselves, as well as to enable (e.g., allow,license, etc.) integrated hearing devices to perform such signalprocessing functions themselves using their built-in hardware.

To this end, FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary communication system 700for license-enabled signal processing of wireless signals that benefitsmany or all of the parties described above (e.g., users, customers,manufacturers, etc.) by, for example, providing or facilitating thetechnological benefits of miniaturized, reduced-power hearing deviceswhile avoiding the practical and non-technological pitfalls that suchhearing devices may be associated with. For example, communicationsystem 700 may be implemented as (e.g., may include, be implementedwithin, etc.) any of the types of systems or devices described above.Specifically, as will be described and illustrated below, communicationsystem 700 may be implemented as a standalone communication system(e.g., to operate analogously with hearing device plug-in accessories,hearing device streamer accessories, and/or other such accessoriesdescribed above), or may be implemented as a hearing device (i.e.,integrated with a hearing aid, a sound processor of a cochlear implantsystem, or another such hearing device described above). As will be madeapparent, configurations that include both types of communication system700 (i.e., a standalone communication system and a communication systemintegrated within a hearing device) may provide many or all of thebenefits even while avoiding the disadvantages described herein.

As shown in FIG. 7, communication system 700 may include, withoutlimitation, a license transfer facility 702, and a memory 704selectively and communicatively coupled to one another. It will berecognized that although license transfer facility 702 and memory 704are shown to be separate facilities in FIG. 7, license transfer facility702 and memory 704 may be combined into fewer facilities, such as into asingle facility, or divided into more facilities as may serve aparticular implementation. License transfer facility 702 and memory 704will now be described in more detail.

Memory 704 may include any type of transitory or non-transitory memoryand/or storage capacity for maintaining any suitable data that may beused by license transfer facility 702 or otherwise used by communicationsystem 700. For example, as shown, memory 704 may maintain (e.g., store)management data 706, license data 708, and/or any other data as mayserve a particular implementation. Specifically, within management data706, memory 704 may maintain data received, generated, managed,maintained, used, and/or transmitted by license transfer facility 702 toperform any of the operations described herein. Likewise, within licensedata 708, memory 704 may maintain one or more signal processing licensesor data associated with such signal processing licenses.

A signal processing license may include or be implemented by anysuitable dataset that allows communication system 700 to perform (e.g.,while the signal processing license is maintained by communicationsystem 700) a license-enabled signal processing function on wirelesssignals received by communication system from one or more devicesexternal to the communication system. For example, the signal processinglicense may include or be implemented by a key that allows theperformance of the license-enabled signal processing function byenabling or unlocking functionality related to the signal processingfunction, by a token that allows the performance of the license-enabledsignal processing function by providing permission to communicationsystem 700 to use the functionality related to the signal processingfunction, or by any other similar dataset as may serve a particularimplementation. Similarly, the license-enabled signal processingfunction allowed by the signal processing license may include anysuitable signal processing function such as any signal processingfunction described herein. As described above, however, in contrast tocertain signal processing functions, a license-enabled signal processingfunction may only be performed by a communication system that currentlymaintains a signal processing license.

License transfer facility 702 may include one or more physical computingcomponents (e.g., hardware and/or software components such as aprocessor, additional memory or cache to supplement memory 704, acommunication interface, instructions stored on memory 704 or theadditional memory for execution by the processor, etc.) to facilitatethe maintaining of the license-enabled signal processing function onmemory 704. Additionally, the at least one physical computing componentsincluded within license transfer facility 702 may be configured todetect (e.g., while the signal processing license is maintained withinmemory 704) that an additional communication system is within a transferrange of the communication system.

In response to the detection that the additional communication system iswithin the transfer range of the communication system, license transferfacility 702 may be configured to perform a transfer operation in whichthe signal processing license is transferred from the communicationsystem to the additional communication system such that the signalprocessing license is no longer maintained within the memory once thetransfer operation is completely performed. For example, the transferoperation may allow the additional communication system to perform thelicense-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the transferoperation while preventing the communication system from being able toperform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent to thetransfer operation.

In some examples, communication system 700 may receive, maintain, and ortransfer one or more signal processing licenses to one or moreadditional communication systems without regard to whether a particularsignal processing license is associated with communication system 700 orany other communication system in any particular way. For example, apresentation venue (e.g., a school, a theater, etc.) may purchase aparticular number of communication systems (e.g., hearing device plug-inaccessories, hearing device streamer accessories, etc.) such that thepresentation venue owns a corresponding number of signal processinglicenses. The signal processing licenses may then be distributed topatrons of the presentation venue as needed (e.g., remaining with thestandalone communication systems, or being temporarily transferred topatrons' hearing systems that include built-in communication systems)without regard to any particular signal processing license beingpermanently tied to any particular patron or hearing system.

Additionally or alternatively, in certain examples, a particular signalprocessing license may be shared between two or more specificcommunication systems. For example, a user who uses a hearing systemwith an integrated communication system may also obtain (e.g., purchaseas an accessory to the hearing system, etc.) a dedicated communicationsystem having a signal processing license that the user may transfer tohis or her integrated communication system in order to enable thecommunication system as necessary.

To illustrate, FIGS. 8A and 8B show exemplary configurations in whichcommunication system 700 and an additional communication system 800perform transfer operations with respect to a signal processing license802 shared by communication system 700 and communication system 800. Asshown, FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate communication system 700, which isshown to include certain elements (e.g., memory 704), as described abovein relation to FIG. 7. It will be understood that communication system700 may include the same elements and may perform the same functionalitydescribed above even though, for simplicity of illustration, certainelements of communication system 700 (e.g., license transfer facility702) are not explicitly shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. For example, signalprocessing license 802 may be included within license data 708, storedwithin memory 704.

Moreover, it will be understood that communication system 800 (i.e., theadditional communication system shown to communicate with communicationsystem 700 in FIGS. 8A and 8B) may likewise include the same elements ascommunication system 700 (e.g., including a memory 804 similar to memory704, etc.) and may perform the same functionality described above withrespect to FIG. 7 (e.g., performing a license-enabled signal processingfunction while signal processing license 802 is maintained within memory804). For example, as with communication system 700, communicationsystem 800 may be implemented as any of the types of systems or devicesdescribed above (e.g., standalone communication systems, integratedcommunication systems, etc.). However, this is not to say thatcommunication systems 700 and 800 are necessarily identical. While bothcommunication systems 700 and 800 may include certain similar elementsand functional capabilities, as described above, one of thecommunication systems may be implemented as a standalone communicationsystem (e.g., an accessory configured to enable a license-enabled signalprocessing function), while the other communication system may representa communication system that is implemented as (e.g., that includes or isintegrated within) a hearing device within a hearing system (e.g., ahearing device that has various additional capabilities). Specificexamples of how each communication system may be implemented will bedescribed and illustrated in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 9and 10.

As shown in FIG. 8A, communication system 700 may maintain signalprocessing license 802 within memory 704 so as to perform alicense-enabled signal processing function on wireless signals receivedby communication system 700 while signal processing license 802 ismaintained by communication system 700. Communication system 700 maythen detect that communication system 800 is within (i.e., asillustrated by a proximity change 806 of communication system 800) atransfer range 808 of communication system 700. In response to thedetection that communication system 800 is within transfer range 808(i.e., based on the proximity of communication system 700 tocommunication 800 subsequent to proximity change 806), communicationsystem 700 may perform a transfer operation 810 in which signalprocessing license 802 is transferred from communication system 700 tocommunication system 800 (i.e., to memory 804 of communication system800) such that signal processing license 802 is no longer maintainedwithin memory 704 of communication system 700 once transfer operation810 is completely performed.

In certain examples, the transfer operation 810 may be performedautomatically in the sense that no explicit request (e.g., a requestinitiated in response to a user button press or the like) may beprovided in order to initiate performance of transfer operation 810. Forinstance, transfer operation 810 may be performed automatically as soonas communication systems 700 and 800 are within a suitable proximity ofone another (e.g., within transfer range 808). In other examples,however, because communication systems 700 and 800 may share signalprocessing license 802 such that only one of communication systems 700and 800 may use signal processing license 802 at a time (i.e., renderingthe other communication system that does not maintain signal processinglicense 802 unable to perform the license-enabled signal processingfunction), it may be desirable to put additional measures in place toprevent accidental, fraudulent, or other unwanted or unexpected transferoperations of signal processing license 802. One or more of suchmeasures may be implemented to ensure that transfer operation 810 isonly performed on signal processing license 802 when appropriate, aswill now be described.

One measure that may be implemented to ensure that transfer operation810 is not performed accidentally, erroneously, fraudulently, or thelike, is that transfer operation 810 may only be performed in responseto an occurrence of a proximity event between communication systems 700and 800. For example, as described above, communication system 700 mayonly perform transfer operation 810 in response to a detection thatcommunication system 800 is within transfer range 808 of communicationsystem 700, or, in other words, that communication system 800 is alreadyor has entered to be within a predetermined proximity of communicationsystem 700. This detection may be performed in any suitable way. Forexample, communication system 700 may detect that communication system800 is within transfer range 808 by detecting (e.g., by measuring orotherwise determining) a field strength of a radio signal generated bycommunication system 800, and by determining (e.g., based on thedetected field strength) that a received signal strength indication(“RSSI”) associated with communication system 800 exceeds apredetermined RSSI threshold.

Transfer range 808 may represent any suitable range (e.g., distance,proximity, etc.) from communication system 700 as may serve a particularimplementation. For example, transfer range 808 of communication system700 may be a maximum distance from communication system 700 at which awireless communication protocol (e.g., the wireless communicationprotocol by way of which transfer operation 810 is to be performed) isfunctional to successfully perform transfer operation 810. In otherwords, if the wireless communication protocol that is to be used toperform transfer operation 810 is, for example, a near-fieldcommunication (“NFC”) protocol configured to operate only betweendevices that are a few centimeters apart, transfer range 808 may be afew centimeters. Conversely, as another example, if the wirelesscommunication protocol that is to be used to perform transfer operation810 is a Bluetooth protocol configured to operate between devices thatare several meters apart, transfer range 808 may be several meters.

In certain examples, in order to decrease the probability of inadvertentor fraudulent license transfer operations, transfer range 808 ofcommunication system 700 may be a predetermined distance fromcommunication system 700 that is less than the maximum distance fromcommunication system 700 at which the wireless communication protocol byway of which transfer operation 810 is to be performed is functional tosuccessfully perform transfer operation 810. In other words, even if thewireless communication protocol is, for example, a Bluetooth protocolconfigured to operate between devices that are several meters apart,transfer range 808 may be set to be less than the maximum of severalmeters at which the Bluetooth wireless communication protocol couldsuccessfully function. Instead, for example, transfer range 808 may beset to be just a few centimeters to require close proximity betweencommunication systems 700 and 800, thereby reducing the probability ofwrongful transfers since it may be less likely that communicationsystems 700 and 800 will come into very close proximity unless transferoperation 810 is desirable.

Moreover, other measures beyond proximity-based measures may similarlybe implemented to prevent unwanted transfer operations. For example, auser of communication system 800 may indicate, by way of communicationsystem 800, that transfer operation 810 is desired (i.e., is apurposeful, authorized transfer operation) by, for instance, pushing abutton included on a hearing device, power pack system, streameraccessory, or the like associated with communication system 800. Assuch, communication system 700 may receive (e.g., while signalprocessing license 802 is maintained within memory 704) a licensetransfer request from communication system 800, and communication system700 may perform transfer operation 810 in response to the receipt of thelicense transfer request.

Additionally or alternatively, a user of communication system 700 mayindicate, by way of communication system 700, that transfer operation810 is desired (i.e., is a purposeful, authorized transfer operation)by, for example, pushing a button included on a hearing device, powerpack system, streamer accessory, or the like associated withcommunication system 700. As such, communication system 700 may transmit(e.g., while signal processing license 802 is maintained within memory704 and/or in response to the detection that communication system 800 iswithin transfer range 808 of communication system 700) a licensetransfer request to communication system 800. In response to the licensetransfer request, communication system 700 may receive fromcommunication system 800 an optional license transfer acknowledgement,and, thus, may perform transfer operation 810 in response to the receiptof the license transfer acknowledgement.

Yet other measures that may be implemented to ensure that onlyintentional, authorized transfer operations of signal processing license802 are performed may include contextual analyses of whether transferoperation 810 is valid. For example, communication system 700 maydetermine (e.g., while signal processing license 802 is maintainedwithin memory 704 and in response to the detection that communicationsystem 800 is within transfer range 808 of communication system 700)that communication system 800 does not currently maintain any activesignal processing license (e.g., an additional signal processing licensesimilar to signal processing license 802). Additionally, communicationsystem 700 may determine that communication system 800 is compatiblewith signal processing license 802 and/or with communication system 700itself.

For example, different types of signal processing licenses may beavailable (e.g., general licenses, bulk licenses, educational licenses,etc.) at different prices and/or targeted at different types ofcustomers. Similarly, different communication systems may be distributedto and used by different types of customers. Thus, communication system700 may ensure, prior to performing transfer operation 810, that thelicense types, communication system types, etc., of communicationsystems 700 and 800 and signal processing license 802 all properlyalign. Accordingly, communication system 700 may perform transferoperation 810 in response to the determination that communication system800 does not currently maintain the additional signal processing licenseand that communication system 800 is compatible with signal processinglicense 802 and/or with communication system 700.

Yet other measures that may be implemented to ensure that onlyintentional, authorized transfer operations of signal processing license802 are performed (e.g., automatically performed) may include onlyperforming transfer operation 810 when communication system 700 and/or800 are in a license transfer mode. For example, communication system700 may determine (e.g., while signal processing license 802 ismaintained within memory 704 and in response to the detection thatcommunication system 800 is within transfer range 808) if communicationsystem 700 is in a license transfer mode and, only once communicationsystem 700 is in the license transfer mode, may perform transferoperation 810. Additionally or alternatively, as another example,communication system 700 may determine that communication system 800 isin a license transfer mode, and may automatically perform transferoperation 810 in response to the determination that communication system800 is in the license transfer mode.

Communication systems 700 and/or 800 may enter and remain within alicense transfer mode based on any suitable criteria, events, timelimits, or the like. For instance, in certain implementations, acommunication system implemented within a hearing device such as ahearing aid may be configured to enter the license transfer modeautomatically when the hearing device is powered on (e.g., by aswitching on of a power switch, by a closing of a battery door, etc.)and may remain in the license transfer mode for a predetermined amountof time (e.g., 30 seconds, 1 minute, etc.) thereafter. Meanwhile, astandalone communication system implemented as an accessory configuredto enable a hearing device to perform a license-enabled signalprocessing function, may remain in a license transfer mode at all times,may temporarily enter a license transfer mode in response to a userinput, or based on other criteria, time limits, and so forth.

In certain examples, fraudulent license transfers may further beprevented by implementing security measures with respect tocommunications between communication systems 700 and 800. For example,data transferred as part of transfer operation 810 may be encrypted suchthat, even if the data were to be wrongfully intercepted, the data wouldbe unreadable and/or otherwise unusable without proper secret keys,certificates, etc., that are uniquely known to the intended recipient ofthe communication (e.g., communication system 800).

Additionally, along with preventing accidental and fraudulent licensetransfers between communication systems 700 and 800, it may also bedesirable to implement measures that ensure the integrity of licensetransfer operations to guarantee, for instance, that exactly one ofcommunication systems 700 and 800 is properly licensed to perform thelicense-enabled signal processing function at all times (i.e., thatthere is no time, or that times are minimized, where both or neither ofcommunication systems 700 and 800 are licensed to perform thelicense-enabled signal processing function). For example, varioussuitable handshaking techniques may be used to deactivate onecommunication system 700 (i.e., disallow communication system 700 fromperforming the license-enabled signal processing function) only oncethere is positive feedback (e.g., data representative of anacknowledgement) from communication system 800 that transfer operation810 was successful and that signal processing license 802 has beenreceived.

As described above, subsequent to transfer operation 810 (i.e., oncetransfer operation 810 has been completely performed), communicationsystem 800 may perform the license-enabled signal processing functionwhile communication system 700 may be prevented from being able toperform the license-enabled signal processing function. This may lastuntil a subsequent transfer operation is performed to cause signalprocessing license 802 to be transferred from communication system 800back to communication system 700.

To illustrate, FIG. 8B shows that communication system 800 may maintainsignal processing license 802 within memory 804 subsequent to transferoperation 810, described above in relation to FIG. 8A. However,communication system 700 may detect (e.g., while signal processinglicense 802 is maintained by communication system 800 and not bycommunication system 700) that communication system 700 is alreadywithin a transfer range 814 or communication system 800, or thatcommunication system 700 enters (e.g., due to a proximity change 812between communication systems 700 and 800) the transfer range 814 ofcommunication system 800. While the arrow associated with proximitychange 812 is shown to be associated with communication system 700, itwill be understood that either or both of communication systems 700 and800 may physically move to cause the proximity change associated withcommunication system 700 entering transfer range 814. Transfer range 814may be a similar range or a different range as transfer range 808,described above with respect to FIG. 8A.

In response to the detection that communication system 700 is alreadywithin or has entered transfer range 814 of communication system 800,communication systems 700 and 800 may perform a transfer operation 816in which signal processing license 802 is transferred from communicationsystem 800 back to communication system 700 such that signal processinglicense 802 is again maintained within memory 704 of communicationsystem 700 once transfer operation 816 is completely performed. As such,transfer operation 816 may allow communication system 700 to againperform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent totransfer operation 816, and may prevent communication system 800 frombeing able to perform the license-enabled signal processing functionsubsequent to transfer operation 816.

As mentioned above, in various configurations, both communicationsystems in a license transfer operation (e.g., both communicationsystems 700 and 800) may include similar properties and capabilitieswith respect to the functionality of a communication system describedabove. However, as will now be described in more detail, exactly one(i.e., one but not both) of communication systems 700 and 800 mayinclude (e.g., be integrated with, built into, etc.) another system ordevice such as a hearing device included within a hearing system suchthat, in addition to the communication system functionality describedabove, the communication system and the device integrated with thecommunication system integrated may provide further functionality notprovided by the other communication system. For example, a communicationsystem integrated with a hearing device in a hearing system may befurther configured to provide stimulation to a user to facilitate theuser in perceiving an acoustic signal upon which a digital audiotransmission received and processed by the communication system isbased.

To illustrate, FIGS. 9 and 10 show exemplary configurations 900 and1000, respectively, in which exemplary communication systems 700 and 800perform license-enabled signal processing of wireless signals. In FIGS.9 and 10, the same numbering scheme described above with respect toFIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 may be used. For example, a hearing aid system902 that is analogous with systems 102, 202, 302, 402, and 602 (i.e., inconfigurations 100, 200, 300, 400, and 600, respectively) may receivewireless signals from a wireless microphone 904 that is analogous withwireless devices 104, 204, 304, 404, and 604 (i.e., in configurations100, 200, 300, 400, and 600, respectively), and so forth.

However, as shown, in place of the communication systems described abovein relation to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, respectively (i.e.,communication systems 106, 206, 306, 406, and 606), FIGS. 9 and 10include communication systems 700 and 800, which were described above inrelation to FIGS. 7 and 8. As such, it will be understood that thecommunication systems in FIGS. 9 and 10 include the same functionalityand elements described above with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8, even ifcertain elements and/or functionality of communication systems 700 and800 are not explicitly reiterated or illustrated with respect toconfigurations 900 and 1000.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, communication system 700 may include what has beenreferred to herein as a standalone communication system. In other words,communication system 700 may be implemented, in configuration 900, as acommunication system that exists primarily to perform a license-enabledsignal processing function or share a signal processing license toenable another communication system (e.g., communication system 800) toperform the license-enabled signal processing function, but notnecessarily to act as a hearing device or hearing system by itself.Conversely, communication system 800 may include (e.g., be implementedwith) a hearing device that includes at least one physical computingcomponent to perform the operations described above as being performedby communication systems such as communication system 700, but that alsoincludes circuitry, software, etc., that enable communication system 800to facilitate hearing of the user as described above for hearing systems102, 202, 302, 402, and/or 602. However, in contrast to thecommunication systems included with the above hearing systems,communication system 800 (i.e., within hearing aid systems 902 and 1002)may lack an interface such as plug-in interfaces 212 and 412 and/orwireless audio interface 312. For example, as shown, communicationsystem 800 may lack an electrical interface by which a hearing deviceplug-in accessory separate from communication system 800 is configuredto communicatively and detachably couple with the hearing deviceincluded within (e.g., implementing) communication system 800. Instead,a hardware transceiver that is built into the hearing device may beconfigured to receive the wireless signals from the one or more devicesexternal to the communication system, as will be described below.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 9, configuration 900 may include ahearing aid system 902 that is sent wireless signals from a wirelessmicrophone 904. Communication system 700 may include memory 704, inwhich signal processing license 802 may be maintained at a particularpoint in time. Additionally, communication system 700 may include ahardware transceiver 908-1 for receiving the wireless signals and asignal processor 910-1 for performing or facilitating the performance ofa license-enabled signal processing function with respect to thewireless signals when communication system 700 is plugged into a hearingdevice (e.g., hearing aid 214, sound processor 414, etc.) that is notintegrated with a built-in communication system. As further shown inconfiguration 900, a hearing aid 914 may be integrated withcommunication system 800. This integration of communication system 800with hearing aid 914 may eliminate a need for hearing aid 914 to providean interface to accept a standalone communication system accessory suchas communication system 700.

Accordingly, rather than receiving a digital audio transmission 916 fromwireless microphone 904 and providing an electrical audio signalrepresentative of digital audio transmission 916 (e.g., such as signals118, 218, and/or 418 of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively) to hearingaid 914, communication system 700 may be configured to perform transferoperation 810 of signal processing license 802 (i.e., as described abovein relation to FIG. 8). Thus, subsequent to transfer operation 810,signal processing license 802 may be maintained in memory 804 ofcommunication system 800 rather than memory 704 of communication system700, and hearing aid 914 may receive digital audio transmission 916 andperform the license-enabled signal processing function itself (i.e.,without assistance from communication system 700) using a hardwaretransceiver 908-2 and a signal processor 910-2 within communicationsystem 800 while signal processing license 802 is maintained withinmemory 804. As shown, hearing aid 914 may also include an ear hook 920and an earpiece 922 for facilitating hearing of the user as describedabove.

Because, as a hearing device plug-in accessory, the implementation ofcommunication system 700 in FIG. 9 may typically be plugged into ahearing device or other powered system and derive power therefrom, thisimplementation of communication system 700 may lack a dedicated orindependent power source (in contrast with the implementation ofcommunication system 800 in configuration 900, which is implemented withhearing aid 914 and may receive power therefrom). As such, in order toproperly perform the operations described herein (e.g., to detect thatcommunication system 800 is within a transfer range of communicationsystem 700, to perform a transfer operation of signal processing license802, etc.), communication system 700 may include (e.g., may be sold ordistributed with, may operate using, etc.) a power pack system 924.

As shown in FIG. 9, power pack system 924 may be associated with (e.g.,may include or otherwise have access to) a power supply 926, and mayprovide an electrical interface 912 (e.g., a plug-in interface similarto plug-in interfaces 212 and 412). As such, communication system 700(i.e., including or implemented by a hearing device plug-in accessory,as shown in FIG. 9) may be configured to communicatively and detachablycouple with power pack system 924 by way of electrical interface 912 toreceive operating power by which to power various components ofcommunication system 700 from power supply 926. Additionally,communication system 700 may be configured to communicatively anddetachably couple with another hearing device separate fromcommunication system 700 by way of an electrical interface provided bythe hearing device separate from the communication system. For example,communication system 700 may be configured to communicatively anddetachably couple with hearing aid 214 or sound processor 414 (describedabove) by way of plug-in interfaces 212 and 412, respectively, toprovide an audio signal to these hearing devices. More particularly, forinstance, communication system 700 may provide an audio signal that isbased on the performance of the license-enabled signal processingfunction on wireless signals received by communication system 700 (e.g.,digital audio transmission 916 received from wireless microphone 904) tothe respective hearing device separate from communication system 700while signal processing license 802 is maintained by communicationsystem 700 and while communication system 700 remains communicativelyand detachably coupled with the hearing device by way of the electricalinterface provided by the hearing device.

Hearing device plug-in accessories such as the implementation ofcommunication system 700 shown in configuration 900 may be implementedwith any electrical interfaces as may serve a particular implementation.For example, electrical interface 912 (i.e., provided by power packsystem 924), as well as any plug-in interface provided by a hearingdevice separate from communication system 700 that may be configured todetachably couple with communication system 700, may be implemented asuniversal Europlug interfaces. As such, communication system 700 (i.e.,the hearing device plug-in accessory included within communicationsystem 700) may be configured to communicatively and detachably couplewith power pack system 924 and with any additional hearing devicesseparate from communication system 700 (e.g., hearing aid 214, soundprocessor 414, etc.) by way of the respective universal Europluginterfaces. In other examples, the electrical interface 912 and/or theplug-in interface provided by other hearing devices (e.g., plug-ininterfaces 212, 412, etc.) may be implemented as proprietary interfacesor as any physical interfaces as may serve a particular implementation.

Due to a limited number of conductors included in electrical interface912 and/or a relative simplicity of communication system 700 and/orpower pack system 924, communications between communication system 700and power pack system 924 may be relatively simple. For instance, ifelectrical interface 912 is implemented as a universal Europluginterface, only three conductors (i.e., a power input conductor, aground conductor, and an audio output conductor) may be provided byelectrical interface 912. Accordingly, basic communications fromcommunication system 700 to power pack system 924 may be basic, and maybe performed in any suitable manner. For example, the hearing deviceplug-in accessory of FIG. 9 (i.e., communication system 700) maycommunicate with power pack system 924 by transmitting (e.g., by way ofan audio conductor included in electrical interface 912) an audio toneselected from a plurality of audio tones representative of differentcommunications. For example, a first audio tone at a particular pitch orfrequency may be representative of an indication that communicationsystem 800 has been detected to be within a transfer range ofcommunication system 700, a second audio tone at a different pitch orfrequency may be representative of an indication that a transfer requesthas been detected from communication system 800, and so forth.

Basic communications in the other direction (e.g., from power packsystem 924 to communication system 700) may similarly be performed inany suitable way. For instance, power pack system 924 may provide animpedance with respect to another conductor of the electrical interface(e.g., an impedance on an audio conductor with respect to a groundconductor within electrical interface 912, or on one or more of theother conductors included within electrical interface 912) selected froma plurality of impedances representative of different communications.For example, a particular impedance (e.g., an impedance different fromimpedances provided by hearing devices such as hearing aids, soundprocessors, etc.) may be provided to indicate that communication system700 is plugged into power pack system 924 (as opposed to being pluggedinto a hearing device such as hearing aid 214 or sound processor 414).

Power pack system 924 may further provide user interfacing options tofacilitate a user overseeing proper license transfer betweencommunication systems 700 and 800. For example, as shown, power packsystem 924 may include one or more buttons 928 or other such inputs, oneor more light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) 930 or other such outputindicators, and/or any other input or output interface elements as mayserve a particular implementation. As such, power pack system 924 mayinclude a microcontroller and associated executable instructions orbasic logic circuitry to implement any suitable user interfacefunctionality. For instance, the microcontroller (not explicitly shownin FIG. 9) may detect that a user has pushed a button 928 indicative ofa user request to transfer signal processing license 802 or the like.Similarly, the microcontroller may cause one of LEDs 930 to light up toindicate that transfer operation 810 is ongoing, has completedsuccessfully, returned an error, etc., as the case may be.

FIG. 10 illustrates configuration 1000, which may be similar toconfiguration 900 of FIG. 9, except that communication system 700 mayinclude (e.g., be implemented with) a hearing device streamer accessoryrather than a hearing device plug-in accessory (as was shown in FIG. 9).In particular, configuration 1000 may include a hearing aid system 1002that is sent wireless signals from a wireless microphone 1004.Communication system 700 may include memory 704, in which signalprocessing license 802 may be maintained at a particular point in time.Additionally, communication system 700 may include a hardwaretransceiver 1008-1 for receiving the wireless signals and a signalprocessor 1010-1 for performing or facilitating the performance of alicense-enabled signal processing function with respect to the wirelesssignals when communication system 700 is coupled with a hearing devicethat does not include a built-in communication system (e.g., such ashearing aid 314). As further shown in configuration 1000, hearing aid1014 may be integrated with communication system 800 (i.e.,communication system 800 may be built in to hearing aid 1014 rather thanor in addition to an interface to couple with a standalone communicationsystem accessory such as communication system 700).

Accordingly, rather than receiving a digital audio transmission 1016from wireless microphone 1004 and providing a radio audio signalrepresentative of digital audio transmission 1016 (e.g., such as signal318 of FIG. 3) to hearing aid 1014, communication system 700 may beconfigured to perform transfer operation 810 of signal processinglicense 802 (i.e., as described above in relation to FIG. 8). Thus,subsequent to transfer operation 810, signal processing license 802 maybe maintained in memory 804 of communication system 800 rather thanmemory 704 of communication system 700, and hearing aid 1014 may receivedigital audio transmission 1016 and perform the license-enabled signalprocessing function itself (i.e., without assistance from communicationsystem 700) using a hardware transceiver 1008-2 and a signal processor1010-2 within communication system 800 while signal processing license802 is maintained within memory 804. As shown, hearing aid 1014 may alsoinclude an ear hook 1020 and an earpiece 1022 for facilitating hearingof the user as described above.

As with the hearing device plug-in accessory of configuration 900, inconfiguration 1000, a hearing device streamer accessory may be usedeither to perform a license transfer operation (e.g., transfer operation810) to provide signal processing license 802 to hearing device 1014, orto act as a conventional communication system for a hearing deviceseparate from communication system 800 that provides a wireless audiointerface (e.g., wireless audio interface 312 of hearing aid 314).

More specifically, along with detecting that communication system 800 iswithin a transfer range of communication system 700 and transferringsignal processing license 802 to communication system 800 in response,the hearing device streamer accessory of configuration 1000 (i.e.,communication system 700) may further be configured to communicativelycouple with a hearing device separate from the communication system(e.g., a hearing device such as hearing aid 314) by way of a wirelessaudio interface provided by the hearing device separate from thecommunication system (e.g., wireless audio interface 312). The hearingdevice streamer accessory may provide (e.g., to the hearing device whilesignal processing license 802 is maintained by communication system 700and communication system 700 is communicatively coupled with the hearingdevice by way of the wireless audio interface) a radio signal based onthe performance of the license-enabled signal processing function ondigital audio transmission 1016 received by communication system 700from wireless microphone 1004.

Because the implementation of communication system 700 in FIG. 10 (i.e.,the hearing device streamer accessory) may typically include a dedicatedor independent power source (in contrast with the implementation ofcommunication system 700 in configuration 900) as well as user inputelements such as buttons, LEDs, and the like (not explicitly illustratedin FIG. 10), no special power pack system may be required for use withcommunication system 700 in configuration 1000.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary method 1100 for license-enabled signalprocessing of wireless signals. One or more of the operations shown inFIG. 11 may be performed by communication system 700 and/or anyimplementation thereof. While FIG. 11 illustrates exemplary operationsaccording to one embodiment, other embodiments may omit, add to,reorder, and/or modify any of the operations shown in FIG. 11.

In operation 1102, a communication system may maintain (e.g., within amemory of the communication system) a signal processing license. Thesignal processing license may be configured to allow the communicationsystem to perform a license-enabled signal processing function while thesignal processing license is maintained by the communication system. Forexample, the license-enabled signal processing function may be performedon wireless signals received by the communication system from one ormore devices external to the communication system. Operation 1102 may beperformed in any of the ways described herein.

In operation 1104, the communication system may detect that anadditional communication system is within a transfer range of thecommunication system. For example, the communication system may detectthat the additional communication system is within the transfer range ofthe communication system while the signal processing license ismaintained within the memory. Operation 1104 may be performed in any ofthe ways described herein.

In operation 1106, the communication system may perform a transferoperation. For example, the communication system may perform thetransfer operation in response to the detecting, in operation 1104, thatthe additional communication system is within the transfer range of thecommunication system. In some examples, the transfer operation mayinvolve the signal processing license being transferred from thecommunication system to the additional communication system such thatthe signal processing license is no longer maintained within the memoryof the communication system once the transfer operation is completelyperformed. As such, in certain examples, the transfer operation mayallow the additional communication system to perform the license-enabledsignal processing function subsequent to the transfer operation evenwhile preventing the communication system from being able to perform thelicense-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the transferoperation. Operation 1106 may be performed in any of the ways describedherein.

In the preceding description, various exemplary embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto,and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing fromthe scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. Forexample, certain features of one embodiment described herein may becombined with or substituted for features of another embodimentdescribed herein. The description and drawings are accordingly to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication system comprising: at least one physical computing device that maintains a signal processing license within a memory of the communication system, the signal processing license configured to allow the communication system to perform, while the signal processing license is maintained by the communication system, a license-enabled signal processing function on signals received by the communication system from one or more devices external to the communication system, detects, while the signal processing license is maintained within the memory, that an additional communication system is within a transfer range of the communication system, and performs, in response to the detection that the additional communication system is within the transfer range of the communication system, a transfer operation in which the signal processing license is transferred from the communication system to the additional communication system such that the signal processing license is no longer maintained within the memory once the transfer operation is completely performed; wherein the transfer operation allows the additional communication system to perform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the transfer operation and prevents the communication system from being able to perform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the transfer operation.
 2. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising: a power pack system associated with a power supply; an electrical interface provided by the power pack system; a hearing device plug-in accessory that includes the at least one physical computing component and is configured to communicatively and detachably couple with the power pack system by way of the electrical interface to receive operating power by which to power the at least one physical computing component from the power supply, communicatively and detachably couple with a hearing device separate from the communication system by way of an electrical interface provided by the hearing device separate from the communication system, and provide, to the hearing device separate from the communication system while the signal processing license is maintained by the communication system and the hearing device plug-in accessory is communicatively and detachably coupled with the hearing device separate from the communication system by way of the electrical interface provided by the hearing device separate from the communication system, an audio signal generated by the at least one physical computing component based on the performance of the license-enabled signal processing function on the signals received by the communication system from the one or more devices external to the communication system; and a hardware transceiver that is built into the hearing device plug-in accessory and is configured to receive the signals from the one or more devices external to the communication system.
 3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein: the electrical interface provided by the power pack system and the electrical interface provided by the hearing device are both implemented as universal Europlug interfaces; the hearing device plug-in accessory is configured to communicatively and detachably couple with the power pack system and with the hearing device by way of the respective universal Europlug interfaces; and the additional communication system is implemented by an additional hearing device that lacks an electrical interface by which the hearing device plug-in accessory is configured to communicatively and detachably couple with the additional hearing device.
 4. The communication system of claim 2, wherein: the hearing device plug-in accessory communicates with the power pack system by transmitting, by way of the electrical interface provided by the power pack system, an audio tone selected from a plurality of audio tones representative of different communications; and the power pack system communicates with the hearing device plug-in accessory by providing, on a conductor of the electrical interface provided by the power pack system, an impedance with respect to another conductor of the electrical interface selected from a plurality of impedances representative of different communications.
 5. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising: a hearing device streamer accessory that includes the at least one physical computing component and is configured to communicatively couple with a hearing device separate from the communication system by way of a wireless audio interface provided by the hearing device separate from the communication system, and provide, to the hearing device separate from the communication system while the signal processing license is maintained by the communication system and the hearing device streamer accessory is communicatively coupled with the hearing device separate from the communication system by way of the wireless audio interface, a radio signal generated by the at least one physical computing component based on the performance of the license-enabled signal processing function on the signals received by the communication system from the one or more devices external to the communication system; and a hardware transceiver that is built into the hearing device streamer accessory and is configured to receive the signals from the one or more devices external to the communication system.
 6. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising: a hearing device that includes the at least one physical computing component, and lacks an electrical interface by which a hearing device plug-in accessory separate from the communication system is configured to communicatively and detachably couple with the hearing device; and a hardware transceiver that is built into the hearing device and is configured to receive the signals from the one or more devices external to the communication system.
 7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one physical computing component detects that the additional communication system is within the transfer range of the communication system by: detecting a field strength of a radio signal generated by the additional communication system; and determining, based on the detected field strength, that a received signal strength indication (RSSI) associated with the additional communication system exceeds a predetermined RSSI threshold.
 8. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the transfer range of the communication system is a maximum distance from the communication system at which a wireless communication protocol by way of which the transfer operation is performed is functional to successfully perform the transfer operation.
 9. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the transfer range of the communication system is a predetermined distance from the communication system that is less than a maximum distance from the communication system at which a wireless communication protocol by way of which the transfer operation is performed is functional to successfully perform the transfer operation.
 10. The communication system of claim 1, wherein: the communication system is implemented within one of a hearing device, a hearing device plug-in accessory associated with a power pack system, and a hearing device streamer accessory; the signals received by the communication system are wireless signals associated with a digital audio transmission; and the one or more devices external to the communication system include a wireless microphone that detects an acoustic signal and transmits the digital audio transmission based on the acoustic signal.
 11. The communication system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one physical computing component determines, while the signal processing license is maintained within the memory and in response to the detection that the additional communication system is within the transfer range of the communication system, that the additional communication system does not currently maintain an additional signal processing license, and that the additional communication system is compatible with at least one of the signal processing license and the communication system; and the at least one physical computing component performs the transfer operation further in response to the determination that the additional communication system does not currently maintain the additional signal processing license and that the additional communication system is compatible with the at least one of the signal processing license and the communication system.
 12. The communication system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one physical computing component determines, while the signal processing license is maintained within the memory and in response to the detection that the additional communication system is within the transfer range of the communication system, that the communication system is in a license transfer mode; and the at least one physical computing component performs the transfer operation further in response to the determination that the communication system is in the license transfer mode.
 13. The communication system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one physical computing component further transmits, while the signal processing license is maintained within the memory and in response to the detection that the additional communication system is within the transfer range of the communication system, a license transfer request to the additional communication system; and the at least one physical computing component performs the transfer operation subsequent to the transmission of the license transfer request.
 14. The communication system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one physical computing component further receives, while the signal processing license is maintained within the memory and in response to the detection that the additional communication system is within the transfer range of the communication system, a license transfer request from the additional communication system; and the at least one physical computing component performs the transfer operation further in response to the receipt of the license transfer request.
 15. The communication system of claim 1, wherein, subsequent to the transfer operation, the at least one physical computing component further: detects, while the signal processing license is maintained by the additional communication system and not by the communication system, that the communication system is within a transfer range of the additional communication system, and performs, in response to the detection that the communication system is within the transfer range of the additional communication system, an additional transfer operation in which the signal processing license is transferred from the additional communication system to the communication system such that the signal processing license is again maintained within the memory of the communication system once the additional transfer operation is completely performed; wherein the additional transfer operation allows the communication system to perform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the additional transfer operation and prevents the additional communication system from being able to perform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the additional transfer operation.
 16. A communication system comprising: at least one physical computing device that maintains a signal processing license within a memory of the communication system, the signal processing license configured to allow the communication system to perform, while the signal processing license is maintained by the communication system, a license-enabled signal processing function on a digital audio transmission received by the communication system from a wireless microphone that detects an acoustic signal and transmits the digital audio transmission based on the acoustic signal, detects, while the signal processing license is maintained within the memory, that an additional communication system is within a transfer range of the communication system, and performs, in response to the detection that the additional communication system is within the transfer range of the communication system, a transfer operation in which the signal processing license is transferred from the communication system to the additional communication system such that the signal processing license is no longer maintained within the memory once the transfer operation is completely performed; wherein: the transfer operation allows the additional communication system to perform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the transfer operation and prevents the communication system from being able to perform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the transfer operation, and exactly one of the communication system and the additional communication system is configured to provide stimulation to a user to facilitate the user in perceiving the acoustic signal upon which the digital audio transmission is based.
 17. The communication system of claim 16, further comprising: a power pack system associated with a power supply; an electrical interface provided by the power pack system; a hearing device plug-in accessory that includes the at least one physical computing component and is configured to communicatively and detachably couple with the power pack system by way of the electrical interface to receive operating power by which to power the at least one physical computing component from the power supply, communicatively and detachably couple with a hearing device separate from the communication system by way of an electrical interface provided by the hearing device separate from the communication system, and provide, to the hearing device separate from the communication system while the signal processing license is maintained by the communication system and the hearing device plug-in accessory is communicatively and detachably coupled with the hearing device separate from the communication system by way of the electrical interface provided by the hearing device separate from the communication system, an audio signal generated by the at least one physical computing component based on the performance of the license-enabled signal processing function on the digital audio transmission received by the communication system from the wireless microphone; and a hardware transceiver that is built into the hearing device plug-in accessory and is configured to receive the digital audio transmission from the wireless microphone; wherein the additional communication system is the exactly one of the communication system and the additional communication system that is configured to provide the stimulation to the user to facilitate the user in perceiving the acoustic signal upon which the digital audio transmission is based.
 18. The communication system of claim 16, further comprising: a hearing device streamer accessory that includes the at least one physical computing component and is configured to communicatively couple with a hearing device separate from the communication system by way of a wireless audio interface provided by the hearing device separate from the communication system, and provide, to the hearing device separate from the communication system while the signal processing license is maintained by the communication system and the hearing device streamer accessory is communicatively coupled with the hearing device separate from the communication system by way of the wireless audio interface, a radio signal generated by the at least one physical computing component based on the performance of the license-enabled signal processing function on the digital audio transmission received by the communication system from the wireless microphone; and a hardware transceiver that is built into the hearing device streamer accessory and is configured to receive the digital audio transmission from the wireless microphone; wherein the additional communication system is the exactly one of the communication system and the additional communication system that is configured to provide the stimulation to the user to facilitate the user in perceiving the acoustic signal upon which the digital audio transmission is based.
 19. The communication system of claim 16, further comprising: a hearing device that includes the at least one physical computing component, and lacks an electrical interface by which a hearing device plug-in accessory separate from the communication system is configured to communicatively and detachably couple with the hearing device; and a hardware transceiver that is built into the hearing device and is configured to receive the digital audio transmission from the wireless microphone; wherein the communication system is the exactly one of the communication system and the additional communication system that is configured to provide the stimulation to the user to facilitate the user in perceiving the acoustic signal upon which the digital audio transmission is based.
 20. A method comprising: maintaining, by a communication system within a memory of the communication system, a signal processing license configured to allow the communication system to perform, while the signal processing license is maintained by the communication system, a license-enabled signal processing function on signals received by the communication system from one or more devices external to the communication system; detecting, by the communication system while the signal processing license is maintained within the memory, that an additional communication system is within a transfer range of the communication system; and performing, by the communication system in response to the detecting that the additional communication system is within the transfer range of the communication system, a transfer operation in which the signal processing license is transferred from the communication system to the additional communication system such that the signal processing license is no longer maintained within the memory once the transfer operation is completely performed; wherein the transfer operation allows the additional communication system to perform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the transfer operation and prevents the communication system from being able to perform the license-enabled signal processing function subsequent to the transfer operation. 